Ah, Meade is (maybe) once more pushing the envelope, and risking a new product introduction. I love when they do that!I hope it's a good one, and gets some support. That'll force Celestron to do something to compete, and bingo - we get a whole new class of telescope choices!

I will say this: Very interesting...but...given what's gone on the last few years, they need to do everything in their power to make sure this is right _out the door_. No more early adopter-beta testers as with the RCX.

I was just looking at the HD scopes and this news has me hesitating. I am certainly interested in the OTA and like the new focuser concept. My RCX experience has me still gun shy of the the whole electronic - do everything - approach. I do miss the RCX optics, best I have ever had.

Impressive. F8 coma free native. F5 coma free and flattened with the reducer. Claimed no image shift or need for mirror locks due to a new focus system.

I have one complaint from the announcement however. They seem to be doing what Celestron did. They have a low[er] end and a high end but nothing inbetween. Would of been nice to see a mount option in the ~2k-3k range out the door right away to give people another option from the CGEM/DX instead of budget mounts or the CGE Pro competitor.

I can only imagine they'll release a baby brother to the LX800 mount with a 50-60lb capacity later.

I was just looking at the HD scopes and this news has me hesitating. I am certainly interested in the OTA and like the new focuser concept. My RCX experience has me still gun shy of the the whole electronic - do everything - approach. I do miss the RCX optics, best I have ever had.

Have to agree. Rcx had the best optics. I had it side by side with my TMB and let me tell you I wanted to put the TMB away. I'm just wondering if these new ota are of the same quality?

Ok...well that is settled...when I defend my thesis and hopefully make more money than what I am making as a grad student...the 14" LX800 and a nice CCD camera is what I am buying myself as a graduation gift...